Closed for Conservation 15NOV07- 13DEC07
The Red Sea wreck of the SS Thistlegorm will be inaccessible to divers for a period of one month from November 15th until December 13th 2007 whilst urgent conservation measures take place that will help to preserve this historical and legendary wreck for the future.
The closure is part of the new 'Saving the Red Sea Wrecks' Campaign, which is being launched by Red Sea NGO, Hurghada Environmental Protection and Conservation Association (HEPCA).
There are two main actions which act as a catalyst to the natural erosion of a wreck:
1. Vessels mooring on the wreck itself
2. Trapped air bubbles left by the thousands of Scuba divers penetrating the wreck on an annual basis.
A detailed safeguard plan is proposed, to implement a buoy mooring system to prevent the need for vessels to 'tie off' on the wreck and a change in common vessel operational procedures that contribute to the degradation of the wreck. Air escape outlets will also be drilled to allow bubbles to escape. The Campaign will later target the Rosalie Moller and other Red Sea wrecks under threat.
The Campaign already has the full support of many influential individuals and organisations in the diving community. We back HEPCA fully on this vital scheme and intend to take on all new operational procedures put in place by them to ensure its success.
This closure will affect all vessel operators and none will be permitted to visit the area during this period.
We hope that you can appreciate the importance of the closure. This pioneering campaign is vital if these Red Sea wrecks are to be preserved for the future.